It’s a brand new year and one things for sure, Southend’s tourism bosses will be hoping the new ride destined for the city in 2024 will draw in the crowds.

A 38m drop tower is set to come to Adventure Island and it is hoped the attraction will be a magnet to tourists coming to Southend.

It’s always interesting to see how Southend once appealed to tourists and daytrippers and how times have changed.

Echo: Southend's Cliff LiftSouthend's Cliff Lift (Image: Unknown)

These photos are all from a tourism booklet advertising the delights of Southend-on-Sea in 1939.

The glossy booklet featured a ‘14 day itinerary’ for tourists and holidaymakers with suggestions of what to see and where to go The list included walks along the seafront and along the cliffs and the pier as well as taking in a concert at the bandstand.

Echo: The original bandstand on The CliffsThe original bandstand on The Cliffs (Image: Unknown)

Other ‘must do’ suggestions included going to a greyhound meeting, taking a steamer from the pierhead, relaxing in Priory Park and having fun at Peter Pan’s playground – the original Adventure Island!

Echo: The Southend corporation inquiry bureau The Southend corporation inquiry bureau (Image: Unknown)

Big events for the year to look forward to included carnival week, the annual angling festival, a women’s hockey tournament and the Festival of Light in the summer, where the town was lit up with thousands of illuminations.

Echo: Sun Gardens and fountain located on Westcliff seafront.Sun Gardens and fountain located on Westcliff seafront. (Image: Unknown)

Every tourist’s journey simply had to start at the corporation inquiry bureau which was located at the end of the High Street at the junction with Pier Hill.

The kiosk was always bustling with visitors wanting information about the town’s attractions. By 1939 some 60,000 tourist enquiries were handled each year at the bureau.

Echo: Seafront bathing on the Cliffs in LeighSeafront bathing on the Cliffs in Leigh (Image: Unknown)

These are some photos from the brochure. Unfortunately several of the attractions, such as The Shrubbery, the seawater baths and the Sun Gardens are no longer around.

Echo: People chill out on the grass in Priory Park People chill out on the grass in Priory Park (Image: Unknown)Echo: The Rock Gardens and waterfall at The Shrubbery on the seafront.The Rock Gardens and waterfall at The Shrubbery on the seafront. (Image: Unknown)Echo: Pier Hill - looking south east over the town you can see the Palace Hotel and the Queen Victoria statue in its original home, before it was movedPier Hill - looking south east over the town you can see the Palace Hotel and the Queen Victoria statue in its original home, before it was moved (Image: Unknown)